Horse jobs?

Question

What are some good horsey jobs that pay you good money.Over $12.00 an hour.Thats to cheap.I wanted to be a vet but i cant take the horses pain

Answer 1

Elizabeth, most of the jobs where you work "hands on" with horses don't pay very well unless you're at the absolute top of your profession.  My dressage trainer, who was competing at the top level of the sport and was also working at getting her judges card, told me that she once did some calculations on how much she actually earned, per hour, after subtracting expenses for everything she did.  It was a lot less than $12/hour.  

Kind of a paradox, but some of the better-paying jobs in the horse world are a step or two removed from actually working with horses.  There are people who do appraisals of horses' values, and these people can earn over $60,000/year once they become good at their jobs.  People who work in the Thoroughbred industry, for sales companies and bloodstock agencies, can earn comfortable livings, but again they have to "pay their dues" learning the job.  

People in management or administrative positions for large farms can earn good livings, but there are a limited number of jobs.  

If you have the money to go into business yourself and are comfortable with taking risks, you could try "pinhooking."  This is buying young Thoroughbreds for resale later on.  The Green Monkey, the world-record priced Thoroughbred sold at auction, was a pinhook:  the people who sold him for $16 million as a two-year-old bought him as a yearling for $450,000.  Quite a nice appreciation on investment.

FWIW, there is almost no job in the horse industry that I can think of where you are going to start for more than $12/hour.  Entry level for almost anything is going to be near minimum wage, and you'll have to work your way up through experience and increasing your capabilities before you can make a comfortable living.  Talk to most people who are in the horse industry and they'll tell you that they do it more for love of the work rather than to make a comfortable living.

Answer 2

You might consider contacting one of the universities that specializes in equine studies. (One is in Findlay, OH, another is called "Bethany College", but there are lots more - ask for someone in the equine department, preferably someone who heads it up).They should be able to tell you what "jobs" there are that pertain to the equine business and then general expected pay for such jobs, or you could then look this up, online. There is also a book available that covers the equine profession. The good thing, is that horse/equine related fields are growing and more people are "getting into" horses, horseback riding, and taking lessons, similar to the growth in the pet industry. That means that there could be a growth in the career opportunities in equine, also. Regarding pay, you need to consult with people in the business. You have some, right here, who have given you some statistics. Now, go directly to others and ask, outright, what they think the average is for the field they are in, high, and low. If you ask what they make they may be offended or a little uneasy, but you can ask for a "range", training required, hours invested in the work, etc. Just like any other field, there are often many ways people can make a living if they truely love the field, and invest themselves in it. My daughter is studying the equine profession. She will be getting a business degree. She had wanted to go to one of the universities that offer a quality equine program, but may not be able to afford it. She is apprenticing under a good trainer and hopes to work her way through the rest. She also did not want to endure the pain and blood involved in veterinary medicine. Did you know that there are even equine attorneys? Once you really start investigating a field, you will find there is a lot more to it than you may have first assumed. True, you may not make what you expect, but if you inquire with people already in the profession, you can find out more, and don't be afraid to ask - how they got started, $$, etc. Go to a horse expo and you will find people in the business. Look online for trainers, ect. Ask. Can you make the dollar amount you would like? It would be really hard to tell, and would depend upon a lot of circumstances. There are lots of people who feel like you do, and love the horse industry, and want to make it their profession. You will just have to do a lot of investigating and decide for yourself, if it is worth the "investment" of lots of time and energy. Any profession that allows for top pay, usually involves higher education, or lots of time involved in working with people already involved in the industry, and lower level jobs that will lead upwards. Keep your eye upward, but don't be afraid to get into the mud, right now. Good luck in your investigating, and subsequent training for your future profession, and possible life's work.

Answer 3

Listen to Karin C she knows what she's talking about.  There are a lot of horse jobs out there but the wages are a lot less than $12 dollars an hour.  That's why most people who work with horses do it because they love the horses because the pay isn't great and there are no benefits like a regular job.

Answer 4

You can learn how to train or be in the Administration building. A  jockeys valet, Stater at the gate, Go talk to one of the stewards at the racetrack

Answer 5

Working with horses is a way of life, not a job.

You can expect to work long hours for very little pay - but the rewards can be great.  When I worked on studs I was working 6 days a week all year round and only earning about £10,000 (about $20,000) a year.  I did have accomodation included for free, but it still is not a whole lot of cash, and that was one of the top studs in the country - I hate to think what the small studs pay their staff.

I've now moved into an office job that is still contected to racing (researching race results, pedigrees, stallions, etc) and am earning more than double my old wage!

If you want to be hands on with the horses, don't expect a lot of money.  If you are more intereseted in the money then aim for an office job at a racecourse, sales company, or even in a stud office.  But do remember that you will have little, if any, contact with the horses.  That is the thing I miss the most.